The Watership Down Podcast

RE-UPLOAD

This episode is scripted, narrated and edited by Newell Fisher, with script assistance by John Ruths.

RE-UPLOAD

This episode is scripted by John Ruths and Newell Fisher. It includes adapted text by John. My sincere thanks John, for your extensive help this week after last week's expedition to WD.

RE-UPLOAD

This episode is scripted by Newell Fisher, John Ruths and Leea Mäkelä and is narrated, recorded and edited by Newell Fisher.

It includes adapted text by John.

"Watership Down. Perspectives On and Beyond Animated Violence" edited by Doctor Catherine Lester of the University of Birmingham

https://www.bloomsbury...​

RE-UPLOAD

This episode is scripted by John Ruths, Newell Fisher and Leea Mäkelä and is narrated and edited by Newell Fisher.

It includes adapted text by John.

RE-UPLOAD

50: Chapter 48. Dea ex Machina

This episode is scripted by John Ruths and Newell Fisher.

This is the only Chapter in WD written from a human perspective. The phrase "Deus ex Machina" means "the god in the machine" In a story, it signifies a highly unlikely event that resolves an issue, saves someone and provides a happy conclusion. However...this chapter is called DEA ex Machina, meaning the "Goddess in the Machine". When we read the beginning of the chapter and we see the name "Lucy", we know that she must be the "Dea ex Machina". The pre-chapter quote is from the poem, Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas. It is about an idyllic childhood spent on a farm. It is such a childhood that, arguably, saves Hazel. We begin with Lucy, the farm girl from Nuthanger.  It's early and she's just waking up.  When we hear about the possibility of a dog barking, we can link it to when the farm dog was alerted and broke away as he tore off after Dandelion.  Lucy hears a "sharp sound" and it's a squealing.  This gets Lucy up to see what the source of the sound is.  Thinking it's most likely a rat, Lucy sees that it's actually a rabbit! Lucy has a brief confrontation with Tab, one of the farm's resident cats.  She takes hold of the rabbit that we know to be our very own Hazel. Just as with the adults at the farm, it's interesting how Adams lays out how she speaks English, reflecting her Hampshire accent. Hazel in her arms, Lucy encounters her father.  He explains in his own way that to keep a wild rabbit in a hutch is a death sentence.  Her father also defends what the farm cat was doing; and in reality, he's quite right.  Her father asks Lucy to hand over Hazel.  We the reader know what this means. Lucy cries.  She knows her father is right but she's understandably upset.  Lucy wins out. She wants to show the rabbit to the visiting doctor.  Lucy goes upstairs, temporarily places Hazel in a drawer, gets some "cloze" on, and will soon meet the doctor.   The dog is back, spotted coming up the lane by the doctor, and we now know that it is a Black Labrador.  He's clearly been in a fight.  If nothing else, we know that General Woundwort did fight back, given the dog's leg bite and scratched nose.  We also learn, in passing, that the dog's name is Bob. The doctor, whose name interestingly is Adams, sees Lucy's mother first and thinks he'll have time to look at Hazel. Hazel is given an impromptu physical exam.  While Adams is a fan of providing us with multiple points of view, we don't get Hazel's thoughts at all. In this one chapter he is portrayed as humans see him: a dumb animal.  The doctor acknowledges his wounded leg which he received right there at the farm, a recent cat scratch, and reinforces for Lucy that this rabbit cannot live in a hutch.   The doctor makes an offer.  Lucy can go with him on his next house call and Hazel can be dropped off in a location along the way. Luckily for him, Hazel is dropped off on the single track road that lies to the west of WD, on the ridge between it and Hare Warren Down. The just dropped off Hazel seems to have gone temporarily tharn but comes to himself after about half a minute and quickly gets away.  As he departs, the doctor confirms his leg wound.  Of course, we readers already know this.  As Hazel is never named in this chapter, it simply confirms again who this rabbit is.   The doctor states "he could perfectly well live for years" and that seems quite hopeful.  This 'rabbit' has certainly earned this in our eyes. And it will prove to be the case so even the doctor's observation is foreshadowing in a good way. Funnily enough the chapter ends with the Doctor making a reference to the song "Born and Bred in a Briar Patch" from the 1946 Disney movie "Song of the South". And so our brief foray into the human world ends.

RE-UPLOAD

46: Chapter 44. A Message from El-ahrairah

Scripted by John Ruths and Newell Fisher and is narrated, recorded and edited by Newell Fisher.

The pre-chapter quote is from a fairly well-known book about crusader castles.  So, not 'normal' European castles but those built or occupied mostly in the Middle East.  The quote clearly lines up with what's going on at Watership Down.  As our heroes have essentially dug themselves in, they are kind of stuck listening to the activities above.  The chapter opens after the passage of some time from the end of the previous chapter, with the Efrafan attack on WD having started. Speedwell is reporting to Hazel-rah that he no longer hears the sounds of digging.  We then switch and get the point of view of the Efrafans who are surprised to see how many holes there are at this warren.  Woundwort counters his unsettled rabbits with his own brand of logic.  The WD rabbits have left themselves open to attack with so many holes, rather than the other way around and are not in a position of dominance.  Vervain is starting to stand out as a rabbit who is used to being the bully at home rather than the bully far away.  Only Campion and Groundsel seem to be holding up well.  Two of Vervain's rabbits meet with the stalwart Silver and the oft-wounded Buckthorn underground  and are lucky to get away with their lives. Trying to set the example, Groundsel digs his way in only to meet Blackavar who, much like Silver and Buckthorn, comes out on top. The descriptions of the altered conditions and advantages of  close-quarters combat in a narrow run are fascinating. Blackavar is the smaller rabbit, but a good holding bite, and knowing when to let go, are all he needs to drive the larger rabbit back injured. Woundwort discusses things with Campion, who has advocated starving the WD rabbits out. This is rejected because of the risk of staying on open downland for the time needed, which not many rabbits could handle as well as Campion. Determined to have a fighting victory, Woundwort wishes to draw upon the past success at Nutley Copse, the last warren the Efrafans succesfully attacked. They find another rabbit, Ragwort, who was also on that mission.  Woundwort learns what he has to. To make this work, the Efrafans will have to dig their way in straight down.    Hazel listens for a bit and realizes that the Efrafans have stopped digging at one point.  It means they're slowly figuring out the best way to get into the warren.   Fiver is also listening but not to the omnipresent sound of the digging but to those things that only a rabbit such as Fiver can 'hear.'  He's dropping off into some sort of stupor but he first makes a fearful unnatural sound and speaks sentences that strike fear into our heroes.  For, while Fiver now lies unable to be roused, Hazel's mind is processing things and it seems like he too has a vision. Suddenly Hazel knows what to do.  We readers don't yet and this makes this part very intriguing.  In the form of Blackberry and Dandelion, he'll take both brains and speed with him. Hazel's instructions to those that he'll take with him are to get out of the warren.  To get away no matter what and to link up with him at the iron tree at the foot of the scarp slope of the Down.  He instructs Bigwig to block a run and not to give up.  He intimates that El-ahrairah has given him a plan. And with that, Hazel and his two companions are gone. 

Hazel's vision

Just a couple more thoughts on this chapter from John Ruths that pertain to Hazel's 'vision.' Was it a vision akin to one of Fiver's or does the trance that Fiver is in at the end of the chapter bring this onto Hazel? The relevant passage is from page 385 in my Kindle edition and begins: "In Hazel’s mind, green branches were straining in the wind."

RE-UPLOAD

37: Chapter 37. The Thunder Builds Up

Scripted by John Ruths and Newell Fisher

This is the second of the thunder chapters and has a lot of back and forth setting changes, which keep the reader well informed and stimulate the building tension. The pre-chapter quote is from Uncle Remus.  It is spoken in Joel Chandler Harris's portrayal of African-American Vernacular English. The proverb, in standard American and British English, says "You can hide the fire, but what are you going to do with the smoke?" The quote is a clear reference to the secretive activities of Bigwig, the does, and eventually Blackavar who are also in the know.  Chapter 36 ends with Woundwort interrupting Bigwig just as the escape is about to begin.  Bigwig controls his emotions as he is asked many questions. The nature of these tell us that information is being brought to Woundwort.  Woundwort is starting to add things up. Bigwig was the rabbit who, albeit accidentally, got Mallow killed by a fox. He was recognised by Groundsel. The fact that Bigwig didn't mention this is clearly suspicious to Woundwort. Woundwort shares that he is aware of a band of rabbits on the far side of the Iron Road. He directly asks if Bigwig was with this group, forcing Bigwig to deny it. Then he is quizzed about the 'white bird' he was seen near, who was Kehaar, and simply says he's never been harmed by one of them before. As a parting shot, Woundwort asks about his meeting with Hyzenthlay ask him to keep an eye on her. It is intriguing to wonder if there is any chance that Woundwort might have put them all these pieces together eventually to guess their plan. Given the way he is fooled in the next chapter, it is easy to think not. This, for Bigwig, is a very dangerous moment but, overall, Bigwig gets through yet another social encounter in Efrafa.  At this point, he must feel somewhat emboldened. But the escape is over for now. He checks on Blackavar and deliberately knocks into one of the guards and even verbally dresses him down. The scene now moves to the little patrol-base like location where the rest of our heroes are, near the  river, and opens with Hazel.  Kehaar flies in and Hazel questions him about some important details that he's apparently repeated before.  Hazel is nervous.  What is certain is that the escape attempt is off for now and that their escape plan location at the railway arch, which is far nearer Efrafa, needs to change back to the river right away. We now cut back to Bigwig who is with Hyzenthlay. The signs of the stress he's been carrying is really starting to show and he's shaking. Hyzenthlay makes Bigwig even more nervous when she asks if it's possible to get away that evening.  She then relates that it's even possible that there could be a doe spy amongst the group she's spoken to.  If he lost his nerve and made a quick escape with just the ringleaders he would be seen as having failed, no matter what he had been through.  It is now the next morning and Bigwig's own common sense keeps him from panicking when he finds that Hyzenthlay is not there. It's quiet right now due to the building weather system overhead.  He hears Blackavar being brought up the run, who looks more pitiful than before if that's possible.  Chervil arrives and even he, as the mark's captain, seems subdued.  Nelthilta makes an unwise comment to him about a possible "surprise" coming up and that rabbits might be able to fly away.  Soon after they're outside, Bigwig plays a trick that El-ahrairah would really approve of.  Bigwig cleverly fools Chervil with a fake charm, consisting of a dance and a poem, while simultaneously giving Kehaar vital information about returning that night.     Some time later, Bigwig chances upon Blackavar. He uses this private moment to tell Blackavar the plan. This chapter reminds us just how intelligent and brave Bigwig can be under pressure. He goes to his burrow and sleeps.

RE-UPLOAD

32: Chapter 32. Across the Iron Road

The opening quote is another one in French. John Ruths has helped me out here. He says the translation is: "Spirit of rivalry and misunderstanding which more than once preserved the English army from defeat." The person quoted is General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, a French officer in the revolution and Napoleonic Wars. The backhanded compliment towards their historical enemy, the English, is both funny and interesting. Basically implying that an army where there is a little chaos and dissent can have an advantage. During the last chapter, Pipkin excused himself because he found the story of the Black Rabbit too frightening. Because he excused himself he was able to spot the Fox approaching them at the end of the Chapter. This chapter opens with an explanation of how rare encounters between rabbits and foxes are. The only hope a fox has is to sneak up on them downwind. So Pipkins spotting this fox is very lucky. Hazel also realises that Fiver probably used Pipkin's fear as an excuse to act as a sentry. Yet again his instincts preserve the group. Hazel sensibly observes the Fox, while planning what to do next. Suddenly a rabbit pushes past him out into the open. Fiver says it was Bigwig, who they then watch deliberately draw the fox away from the group by pretending to limp away from them. This was completely unnecessary and Hazel feels very angry. As Bigwig and the Fox disappear into undergrowth, they hear the squeal of a rabbit and immediately conclude that Bigwig has been killed by it. Suddenly he reappears and runs towards them fast. He is unharmed. A very angry Hazel begins to round on Bigwig before Fiver points out that the group are very stressed and need to get away. Hazel takes his advice. They cross the road into more open farmland beyond, where they make good progress. As soon as they stop, Hazel has a conversation with Bigwig. Hazel tells Bigwig how angry he is and asks him to explain himself. Bigwig says that he was feeling tense, though the source of his tension is kept from the reader for now, and felt he had to do something such as run a risk. And it worked. He explains the rabbit that cried out by saying that, as he made away from the fox, he bumped into a group of large rabbits, who tried to stop him going any further. As he broke free he heard squealing and concluded that the Fox must have got one of them. This is the death of Mallow, member of the Efrafan Owsla, that we learn about in chapter 37. For Bigwig had bumped into a wide Patrol. How much more luck are the rabbits of Watership Down going to have to rely on? First they narrowly avoid an encounter with a fox, then that same Fox saves them from an Efrafan Wide-Patrol that was tracking them. And that only happens because one of the group does something stupid. Maybe they ARE under the protection of Frith? Silver comes up to Bigwig and Hazel to say that he's realised are closer to Efrafa than he thought. They need to go. Hazel says he wants to skirt around Efrafa and cross the Iron Road. This next part of the journey takes place during a moonlit night, and Adams embellishes it's description with the sounds downland Birds that they Encounter during it. Eventually, as morning approaches, Silver thinks they are near the Iron Road. Here, rather than being at the top of a bank it is in a cutting. They cross it and rest in the field beyond where they are met by Kehaar. They are exhausted but he warns them that another Wide-Patrol is tracking them and they need to go immediately. Again, having aerial reconnaissance proves crucial for the group. They take cover among some trees. Kehaar says that they moved just in time, as the Wide Patrol turned back as it reached the Iron Road. He keeps watch as the rabbits sleep and the day grows hot. 32.3 Next Episode Next time the rabbits reach the River Test, where they have an idea...and Bigwig goes to Efrafa

RE-UPLOAD

31: Chapter 31. The Story of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlé

The opening quotation, from the poem 'Prospice' by Robert Browning, is on the theme of almost looking forward to death as a way of facing it. The story opens with the fairly predictable premise of King Darzin learning of how he was fooled into giving away his lettuces by El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle. There is an escalation, starting with the capture of Rabscuttle by Darzin. The rescue of Rabscuttle provokes Darzin into all out war against El-ahrairah's people. Their attack on the burrows is easily repelled. So the conflict quickly settles into a siege. Eventually the siege drives El-ahrairah to such despair that he cries to Frith that he would drive a bargain with anyone just to save them. Even Death itself. El-ahrairah decides to go to the Black Rabbit and offer him his life in exchange for those of his people. He decides to take Rabscuttle with him as a Messenger. Their journey to the realm of the Black Rabbit is explained in mystical terms, has no one can know how it was undertaken. Eventually they came to a "high place" with no grass. At last they reach a burrow tunnelled into the rock itself. They are about to enter this tunnel, when they realise that what they thought was part of the rock is actually the Black Rabbit of Inlè. The Black Rabbit asks them what they are doing there, as they are alive. When El-ahrairah explains that he has come to trade his life for those of his people, the Black Rabbit replies that there are no bargains to be had with him. The Black Rabbit makes it clear that they are his guests and offers to "entertain" them. First El-ahrairah dices with death, or at least the rabbit equivalent, in a game of Bobstones. Of course, he loses. And the price of that loss is for the Owsla take away his tail and whiskers painfully. The next day they go to see the Black Rabbit again as if nothing has happened. He repeats that they are free to go at anytime. He says that if they are going to stay then they should both tell a story. Of course this becomes a competition, with El-ahrairah proposing the same stakes as before. Only this time he will pay with his ears. This time he is mutilated while in a deep sleep, and when he wakes his ears are gone. A weeping Rabscuttle begs for them to leave, but El-ahrairah again refuses, telling him to fetch two dock leaves switch to replace his ears. El-ahrairah realises that the Black Rabbits Owsla can only hurt him with his consent and has no power to make him leave. He comes across a place guarded by Owsla who try to turn him away with fear. They point out in particular nearby burrow in which is kept the "white-blindness", or myxomatosis. Without giving himself time to think, El-ahrairah jumps into that Burrow in an attempt to catch the disease, so he can take it back and infect King Darzin's troops. He begins to make his way out of the Warren and is met by the Black Rabbit who delivers the final blow by pointing out that the White Blindness is transmitted by fleas that live in rabbit's ears, which El-ahrairah no longer has. El-ahrairah is finally defeated and knows it. The Black Rabbit acknowledges the courage of El-ahrairah, as well as the fact that he is a nuisance, and sends his terrible Owsla to frighten away the troops of King Darzin. We are told that the journey of El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle back to their own Warren takes three months, yet the Warren that El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle arrive back at is larger than they remember. All the rabbits who fought King Darzin's troops are old and the young rabbits of the Warren know little of the fighting that took place and care even less. In fact some of them view it with contempt. El-ahrairah is joined by Lord Frith himself.Frith gives El-ahrairah a new tail, whiskers and ears lit by a little starlight. Just as Frith is about to reward Rabscuttle as well, the story is interrupted by Pipkin, who has spotted a fox.

RE-UPLOAD

Burrowkeeping

From now on I will very strictly deal with one chapter per episode, especially during the events of Part Three.

Introduction to Part Three

Parts 1 and 3 of WD are basically not set on the Down at all. The only part of Part 3 set on WD comes right at the start of its first chapter, with the departure of the Great Raid on Efrafa. The Great Raid is, arguably, an antagonistic act of interference in another culture. On the other hand, Efrafa is, as it is described, blatantly a "failing state" in which its own citizens, in private, say that the system is breaking down. On a similar vein, a while ago I started benefitting from the assistance of John Ruths, who is in the US military. It was he who emphasised to me just how much Richard Adam's military experience seems to have influenced the book. The majority of being a soldier in an active war-zone seems to be not about fighting, but about staying concealed and safe until you are ready to do what you need to get done. In this sense, the life of a rabbit can be compared to life in an active war-zone. And there is no part of WD that is more military in character than Part Three.

Chapter 30. A New Journey Adams succinctly describes the group that sets off for Efrafa as being the same as that which left Sandleford Warren 5 weeks earlier, minus Buckthorn and plus Bluebell. The progress of this larger party on open downland is slower than Holly's small mission and Hazel uses the sensible tactic of dividing them into 3 separate groups. Sometime before Ni-frith (or noon) they reach Caesar's Belt. It is mentioned that Bigwig has seemed preoccupied during the morning. Bluebell has overheard him talking to Hazel Fiver and Blackberry, and it sounded as if he was being reassured. They are now likely to be within the range of Efrafan wide-patrols. Hazel makes it clear that he has brought this many rabbits because not one member of a wide-patrol must make it back to Efrafa if they meet one. They are going to use Caesars Belt to avoid Efrafan wide-patrols and find somewhere near Efrafa to hide. Silver says that this will not be easy and warns that wide-patrols that spot them may not make themselves known but just report back to Efrafa. The group move along Caesars Belt for about half a mile to the west. There, before sunset, Kehaar meets them. Hazel makes it clear to Kehaar that they need him to find somewhere for them to hide. Kehaar suggests crossing the river to the south of Efrafa, using a bridge, and Fiver comments that they should get there as quickly as possible. Hazel says they will travel at night, starting Fu-inlè, or after moonrise. He decides some entertainment would be in order. A couple of light-hearted stories are suggested , but Bigwig interrupts. There is only one story he wants to hear. When it is pointed out to him that it might not be appropriate he reacted angrily towards Hazel, saying that if anyone has the right to choose the story that is told it is him. After an awkward pause, Dandelion begins.

Next Episode Next time we hear the story of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlè.